AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 14, 2026
Coldstuff Ice Cream Owner Speaks Out on Customer Behavior
In Blackstone, Massachusetts, a local ice cream shop has recently garnered widespread attention after its co-owner addressed the treatment of his teenage employees by customers. David Forgit, co-owner of Coldstuff Ice Cream, took to Facebook on October 4, 2026, to call out instances of customers "yelling" at his young workers, many of whom are experiencing their first job.
Viral Facebook Post Highlights Issue
Forgit's post, which began with, "STOP YELLING AT MY F***ING EMPLOYEES," quickly struck a chord online. He explained, "They are children. This job, for most of them, is their first." According to Forgit, these negative interactions were happening more frequently with the teens at the ice cream shop than with adult staff at his other local business, Goodstuff Smokehouse, which sits across the parking lot.
"It seems to me [that] there’s a certain segment of the population that thinks they can talk to children however they want," Forgit told Boston.com, emphasizing that complaints can be addressed civilly. The viral post rapidly grew from an audience of 1,200 Coldstuff Facebook followers to over 37,000 by October 12, and received more than 300,000 likes.
Community Response Spurs GoFundMe Campaign
The online response spurred Forgit to launch a GoFundMe campaign to support his six teenage employees, all ages 18 and under. As of Wednesday afternoon, the fundraiser has generated more than $5,000, nearing its updated $5,500 goal (raised from an initial $3,000). Forgit noted that many Facebook users were seeking a concrete way to show support for both the staff and the business from afar.
Forgit plans to divide the funds among the employees based on the number of hours each teen works per week, aiming to recognize their work and offer them encouragement following the negative experiences.
Merchandise Sales Boost Small Business Support
In addition to the GoFundMe, Coldstuff Ice Cream is also selling t-shirts and sweatshirts online. The merchandise features slogans such as, "It’s ice cream. Be nice or get out!" and "It’s ice cream. For crying out loud!" These sales offer community members and supporters another way to back the small business and its teen workers.
Owner Reflects on Viral Attention and Community Support
Forgit expressed surprise at the sudden attention generated by his viral Facebook post. "I never expected it to get this big," he said, sharing that he originally thought the post might gain only local traction. Now, with tens of thousands of new followers, Forgit remarked, "We have an audience right now" and added that it would be a missed opportunity not to use public interest to support his staff.
Spotlight on Teen Workers in Small Businesses
The situation at Coldstuff Ice Cream has sparked a broader discussion about customer behavior toward young workers and the importance of supporting teens as they learn on the job. It illustrates how social media and community fundraising efforts can come together to assist small business employees, especially when they face undue challenges at work.
Source: boston.com.
